Sheet feeding apparatus



Jan. 24, 1933. v FENTON 1,895,073

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l [E 1:! 2 OF INVENTOR.

A TTO EYS Jan. 24, 1933. R. M. FENTON 1,895,073

' SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 2INVENTOR.

Ray 771. Jen 50% BY A TTORN Y8 Jan. 24, 1933. R. M. FENTON SHEET FEEDINGAPPARATUS Filed June 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. Pa 7 #1. 0 m1 m MH P A TTORNEYS.

R. M. FENTON SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Jan. 24, 1933.

Filed June 25. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS E 771, fanfare Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE RAY M. FENTON, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEWTON STEELCOMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SHEET FEEDINGAPPARATUS Application filed .Tune 29, 1930. Serial No. 463,073.

This invention relating as indicated to sheet feeding apparatus, hasparticular reference to an apparatus adapted to be em ployed for thepurpose of feeding sheets to cold rolls and the like during one step ofthe treatment of such sheets in the course of their manufacture.Considerable difliculty has been experienced heretofore infeeding sheetsespecially in packs to rolls due to the fact that no means has beenprovided for positively aligning the sheets with respect to each otheras well as with respectto the rolls to which they are fed. By employingthe mechanism comprising my invention the sheets may be fed to the rollsin such a manner that lateral alignment of the sheets is positivelyinsured with respect to each other and with respect to the rolls,-andalso this mechanism is adapted to be adjusted so that, as occasion maydemand, the sheets may be fed to such rolls in any one of a numberof'relative lateral positions. Other objects of this invention willappear as the description proceeds. To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the meanshereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of theapparatus comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3is an end elevational view thereof; Fig. 4 is a part sectional, partelevational view of the rolls and associated housing members to whichthe sheets are adapted to be fed by the apparatus comprising myinvention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of one terminal ofthe carriage supporting tracks showing the carriage stop memberassociated therewith; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig.5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Figs.1 and 2,

the apparatus comprising my invention is shown associated withvertically aligned rollsfl and? which have their necks 3 and 4respectively journaled in bearing blocks 5 and Gpro'vided therefor. Thebearing blocks 5 whichrotatably support the lower rolls. 1 arepositioned between the spaced housing members'7 and 8 which may haveguide ways formed on the opposed faces thereof adapted to slidablyengage the bearing block 6 in which the upper roll 2 is journaled.Contact between the rolls land 2 is insured by compression springs 9,the pressure exerted thereby being regulatable by means of screws 10which, at their lower terminals, contact with plates 11 and which arelocked in position by nuts 12. The lower roll 1 has a sprocket 13secured to one projecting terminal thereof and the opposite'terminal ofsuch roll is provided with a pinion 14 which meshes with a pinion 15secured to the upper roll whereby driving communication is establishedfrom such lower roll 1 to the upper roll 2. The housings for the rolls 1and 2 are preferably bolted or otherwise secured to sills 16 which maybe mounted on suitable pillars such as 17.

The sill 16* may have framed thereto-transversely extending members 18which serve as a means of support for track rails 19. The track rails 19are longitudinally inclined as most clearly indicated in Fig. 1, suchinclination being preferably away from the rolls 1 and 2.

Movably mounted on the track members 19 is a carriage which has asubstantially fiat bed 20 to which is secured depending bracketmembors'21 which serve as a means of support for pins 22 which passthcrethrough and on which are j ournaled wheels 23 which support thecarriage. The track members 19 have associated therewith at theirterminals stop members 24 which are secured thereto in the manner mostclearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and which have concave faces 25preferably of a curvature or radius equal to the radius of the wheels23. The stops 24 prevent the carriage from running off from the track onthe rear end thereof due to the slope of such track and prevent suchcarriage from being pulled off from the front end thereof as the sheetspositioned on such carriage are drawn throughthe rolls 1 and 2. Journal'blocks 26 mounted on the sill member 16 adjacent the carriage andjournal blocks 27 mounted on the cross members 18 have journaled thereinshafts 28 which are threaded as at 29 throughout the portion thereofbetween such journal blocks. One of the shafts 28 has a hand wheel 30secured thereto for the purpose of the manual operation thereof and.

both such shafts have sprockets 31 secured.

feeding apparatus may be briefly described as follows. After the rolls 1and 2 have been usted relatively to each other by means of the screws10, a pack of sheets or a single sheet is placed on the bed 20 of thetable, the operators pushing such sheet or sheets laterally until theedges thereof contact with the vertical guide member 34. Afteror duringsuch alignment of the sheets against such guide member, the sheets andthe carriage on which the sheets are supported is pushed forwardly upthe, inclined track 19 until the forward end of the sheet or sheets isenga ed by the rolls 1 and 2, As the sheets are pus ed forwardly towardthe rolls, the stationary guide member 34 which has been adjustedpreviously laterally with respect to the track 19 so as to insure theproper alignment of the sheets entering the rolls, serves as a means forbringing to a common plane, the edges of all of the sheets on the bed 20of the table. By employing the mechanism just described, it will benoted that the proper alignment of the sheets relative to. each otherand to the rolls is accomplished'easily and practically automatically assuch sheets are fed to the rolls. The lateral adjustment of the stop 34enables such stock to be properly positioned so that the sheets willenter the rolls at the proper position relative to the sides or roughportions of such rolls. This lateral adjustment of the stop 34 isparticularly advantageous from the standpoint'of enabling the operatorsto feed the sheets to the rolls in such a manner that the smooth orunbroken body portions thereof will at all times be fed to the smooth orpolished central portions of the rolls. In this manner all marking ofthe sheets is avoided which would occur if the sheets were not accuratelaligned and prop erly fed to the rolls. T e adjusting screws 10 wherebythe pressure between the rolls on their opposite ends may be regulatedare also capable ofbeing employed for the purpose of insurin the properlineal passage of the sheets through the rolls. By maintaining thescrews 10 in proper adjusted position so that the pressure between therolls on their'o posite ends is the same, the sheet or sheets w 'ch are,pulled through the rolls will so passbetween the housings withoutpulling to one side, which usually results in a marking of the sheets.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead ofthe one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the e uivalent'of such stated means be employ I thereforeparticularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with rolls for sheets, of a movable carriage forfeeding such sheets to such rolls, a longitudinally inclined tracksloping away from such rolls supporting said carriage, a stop extendinglongitudinally and along one side only of said track adapted to engagethe edges of such sheets, and means for moving said stop laterallyrelative to said track.

2. In combination with rolls for sheets, of a movable carriage forsupporting such sheets and feeding the same to such rolls, alongitudinall inclined tracksloping away from such ro is for supportingsaid carriage, stops associated with said track for limiting thelongitudinal travel of said carriage, a

uide' for said sheets extending longitudinaly and along one side only ofsaid track normal to the bed of said carriage, and means for moving saidguide laterally relative to said track. a

3. In combination with rolls for sheets, of a. movable carriage forsupporting such sheets and presenting the same to such rolls, alongitudinally inclined track sloping away from said rolls forsupporting said carriage,

y of said track normal to t o bed of said carriage, and means for movingsaid guide laterally relative to said track.

4. In combination with rolls for sheets; of a movable carriage forsupportin such sheets and presenting the same to sue rolls;

a longitudinally inclined track sloping away from such rolls forsupporting said carriage; stops associated with said track limiting thetravel of said carriage; a guide for the edge of such sheets extendinglon 'tudinally of said track, mounted independe ntly of said carriageand normal to the bed thereof; and means for adjustably moving saidguide laterally relative to said track and carriage.

Signed by me this 19th day of June, 1930.

RAY M. FENTON.

